After many raised their concerns, bosses had second thoughts and took them away again.

Now things have swung the other way. Overnight, a welcome mat decorated with cats was put down in outside the space along with some daffodils to brighten the place up.

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Helen Adams, 37, from Henleaze, told the Bristol Post: ‘It seems unnecessary. I could understand if it was right in a shop doorway or something, you can see why a business might not want that, but this is a space between two shops, I can’t see the harm.’

The spikes have been removed (Picture: SWNS)

Colin Lang, centre manager at The Galleries, told the paper: ‘We have experienced ongoing issues with anti-social behaviour in an alcove off Union Street.

‘Following feedback from our retailers and shoppers, and after consulting with the council and the police, it was decided that we should install bollards in an effort to prevent this behaviour.’

Following criticism, a spokesman later told BBC Radio Bristol they were ‘considering other options’.